Pneumatic pressure pressing machine



Jam 9, 1951 c. s. POWELL ET Al. 2,537,700

PNEUMATIC PRESSURE PREssING MACHINE Filed May 1s. 194e I N VEN TORS@arles SJowell 14( Paul 12.7.'

Patented Jan. 9, 1951 UNITED STATES P OFFICE rNsUi/isfric rnsssnnsrnEssINo MACHINE Application May 13, 1948, Serial No.v 26,874

16 Claims.

The present invention relates to a garment pressing apparatus, of thetype employed in tailoring shops, cleaning and pressing establishments,clothing manufacturing concerns and the like, for

. pressing mens and womens outer garments.

A primary object of the invention is to provide animproved apparatus foreffectively applying uniform pressing pressure to the garment, asdistinguished from conventional machines wherein the degree of pressureapplied varies widely throughout different portions of the garment,

depending upon the thickness of the material at different points.

Another object of the invention is to provide,

` vin combination with the means for applying uniform pressure, improvedmeans for heating, mois- 'tening, and drying the garment, before,during,

and" after the pressing operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means forsubjecting the garment to the `influence of steam, to moisten and softenthe fibers of the fabric, thereby to condition them for shaping orforming, under the influence of heat and pressure, applied uniformly tothe garment surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for causinga flow of drying air through the garment, after the pressing operation,to remove the moisture and thereby to dry and set the garment in thepressed condition.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will beapparent from a consideration of the following description of thespecific embodiment, shown diagrammatically for purposes of illustrationin the accompanying drawings and described below.

In the drawings: l

Figure 1 is a somewhat schematic or diagrammatic view, in side elevationof an apparatus embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-section through Vthe head and -buck with the pressin closed position;

.pervious, fabric covering I5, as is well understood in the art. Thebuck pad may be consuitable material.

structed in accordance with the disclosure of the copending applicationof Reiss et al., Serial No. 740.766, filed April l1, 1947, now PatentNumber 2,490,981issued December 12, 1949, and reference made to thatapplication for a description of a preferred arrangement of parts. Thebuck may be of any suitable shape or contour, depending upon the use towhich the apparatus is to be put, and includes a steam heating jacketspace I6, supplied with steam independently of the other steamconnections hereinafter described.

The interior space I3 of the buck may be supplied with steam by a valveI'I connected by a link I8 to a pedal I9, so that a garment placed onthe buck may be steamed and moistened, by thelow of steam through theperforated plate I4 and the Vpervious cover I5.

The space i3v in the buck is also in communication through a pipe 20with a source of vacuum under the control of a valve 2| connected by alink 22 to a suitable pedal I9'. Atmospheric air thus may be drawnthrough a pressed garment on the buck to remove moisture therefrom, todry and set the fibers.

The press head I2 may be mounted on the forward end of a weighted leverarm 23, pivoted at 2li to the machine frame 25 and connected by togglelinks 26, 2l, 28, and 29 and a drag link 3l! to an operating pedal 3|.Since arrangements of this kind are well understood and are inwide useat the present time on presses of the Hoffman type, they need not befurther described.

The press head i2 has an interior closed steam space 35, defined by abottom wall 36 having a concave undersurface, bounded by downwardlyextending marginal portions 31. Steam may be delivered to the space 35at substantially constant, controlled pressure, from a suitable sourceby a pipe 38. Within the concavity below the wall 36, there is disposeda iiexible, distensible, impervious sack G, of rubber, rubber and fabricor any other A valve lil having an inlet42 communicating with theinterior space 35 is arranged to deliver steam through branch pipes 43to the interior of the sack 4D, the valve being controlled by a handle44 or the like. A pipe 55, extending through the head and connected to aflexible rubber tube section 46 in communication with the interior ofthe sack it leads through a steam trap l5 for the removal of condensate.

The head I2 may carry steam and air valves 5t and 5 l. The steam valve,under the control of an operating handle 52, is adapted to deliver steamfrom the hollow space 35, through an intake conduit 53 and a dischargepipe 54 to the concavity below the head, exteriorly of the sack 48.Similarly, the air valve 5 I, under control of an operating handle 55receives air from any suitable source through pipe 56 and delivers thesame through a discharge pipe 51 to the space below the head, exteriorlyof the sack 4U.

A pervious cover 6i) of exible material having a beaded edge 6l may beclamped around the lower margin 31 of the head, by means of a strap 62and suitable clamps 63. The cover E!) is preferably fitted upon thelower surface of the head with a substantial amount of slack, to permitthe sack d to apply high pressing pressure through the cover to agarment on the buck.

In the operation of this form of the invention,

a garment to be pressed is laid upon the buck` Y the handle 52 of valver50 is manipulated to deliver steam from the space to the concavity inThis steam,

the head, exteriorly of the sack dii. diffused throughout the entireyarea of vthe -lower surface of the head, flows through the perviouscover 60 into contact with and through the garment, to moisten andsoften the garment.

liver steam from the hollow interior 35 of the head to the interior ofthe sack 49, whereupon the sack is inflated and pressing pressure isapplied through the cover 6B, evenly to the garment, throughout theentire surface thereof. At the conclusion of the pressing operation,al1` may be delivered to the space above the head cover Bg, exteriorlyof the sack, and a vacuum may be drawn through the buck by manipulatingthe vacuum valve 2l. garment removes moisture therefrom and sets thegarment in the pressed condition. If desired, the air valve associatedwith the head may be eliminated and the suction line connected to thebuck relied upon exclusively, to draw yatmospheric air through thegarment to perform the drying function.

Instead of using steam as the iiuid pressure medium, compressed air maybe delivered to the interior of the sack il from any suitable source,through a valve, controlled in any desired manner.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 4, a plurality ofindependent sacks or cells 65 are employed, instead of a single sack, asin the rst form. The several sacks. are interconnected by a commonheader 66 in communication with a supply pipe 6T for the delivery to thecells of uid under pressure, either al1` or steam. Similarly, the space68 between and surrounding the cells may be supplied with steam and airor either steam or air by Valve-controlled pipes 69 and lll.

Valve 4I may now be manipulated by handle 44, to de- This ow of yairthrough the i The concave space 58, below the several sacks may beclosed by a perforated or pervious cover l2 of any suitable flexiblematerial. The cover may be clamped in place by a marginal cord or cable13 and a strap le.

The operation of this form of the invention is substantially the same aspreviously described.

In both cases, the garment is moistened by the delivery of steam to thehead, in the space surroundingr the inflatable member or members and/orsteam delivered to the space below the perforated top plate of the buck.After moistening, the sack or sacks are inflated by fluid under pressure(steam or air) and pressure is applied to the garment through the coveron the undersurface of the head. After :a suitable pressing time, thesupply of uid under pressure is cut off. While the head is Still in itslowered position, the valve 5i may be opened to deliver drying air tothe concavity in the head, eXteriorly of the sack or sacks. This airflows through the pervious cover of the head, through the garment,through the pervious cover on the buck, and into the chamber therebelow.The vacuum valve may be opened to facilitate this iiow of air. Eventhough the sack or sacks are deiiated at this time, so as not to applypressing pressure to the garment, the pervious cover of the head willbeheld firmly upon the garment, to maintain the latter smoothly on thebuck, by the flow of air from the head through the cover.

After the head has been raised, the vacuum valve may again be opened, toconnect the hollow interior ofthe buck to the source of vacuum, ltherebyto draw atmospheric air through the garment, for final drying.

VIt must be understood that the showing in the accompanying drawings islargely diagrammatic and is made for purposes of illustration and not byway or" limitation. For instance, valves of Yany suitable type may besubstituted for those shown, vand may be mounted whereve1` desired, andoperated by any suitable means, known to vthe art. Moreover, other meansfor raising, lowering, and locking the head may be substitut^d.

The apparatus described above includes means associated with both thehead and the buck for subjecting the garment to steam for moistening andto air for drying. It should be understood, however, that these iiuiddelivery arrangements may be associated with either the buck vor thehead, or one with each only. In other words, steam may be applied to thegarment from either the head or buck, or from both as described above.Similarly, air may be delivered to the garment from the head or suctionthrough the buck ma?)7 be relied upon exclusively.

'I-Ience, it should be understood that the invention is not limited tothe details of construction shown 4in the drawings and described above,but includes all modifications coming within the scope of the appendedclaims and equivalent constructions.

We claim:

l. A pressing apparatus comprising a buck member and a head membermounted for relative movement into juxtaposed relation for pressing agarment therebetween, a pervious cover on the operative face of onemember, a cover of flexible material constituting the operative face ofthe other member, a substantially impervious, distensible elementdirectly behind the last mentioned cover, means for delivering duidunder pressure behind said element to distend the same and thereby applypressing pressure from vthe element through the last mentioned cover,evenly to the garment and means causing uid to flow through saidpervious cover and into the garment.

2. A pressing apparatus comprising a buck member and a head membermounted for relative movement into juxtaposed relation for press- 'ing avgarment therebetween, a exible, pervious cover on the operative face ofone member, a flexible, substantially impervious, distensible elementbehind said Cover, means for delivering fluid under pressure behind saidelement to distend the same and thereby apply pressing pressure to thecover and the garment, and means for delivering uid through said coverfor contact with the garment.

3. A pressing apparatus comprising ak buck member and a head membermounted for relative movement into juxtaposed relation for pressing agarment therebetween, a exible, pervious cover on the operative face ofone member, a flexible substantially impervious, distensible elementbehind said cover, means for delivering iluid under pressure behind saidelement to distend the same and thereby apply pressing pressure to thecover and the garment, and means for delivering steam through said coverand the garment positioned between said members, to meisten the garmentand to condition the same for pressing.

4. A pressing apparatus comprising a buck member and a head lmembermounted for relative movement into juxtaposed relation for pressing agarment therebetween, a flexible,` pervious cover on the operative faceof one member, a flexible, substantially impervious, distensible elementbehind said cover, means for delivering fluid under pressure behind saidelement to distend the same and thereby apply pressing pressure to thecover and the garment, means for delivering steam through said cover tomeisten a garment positioned between said members, and means for causingair to flow through the garment and through at least one of the membersyto dry the garment. f

5. A pressing apparatus comprising a buck member and a head membermountedfor relative movement into juxtaposed relation for pressing agarment therebetween, a flexible pervious cover on the operative face ofone member, a ilexible, substantially impervious, distensible elementbehind said cover, means for delivering fluid under pressure behind saidelement to distend the same and thereby apply pressing pressure to thecover and the garment, means for delivering steam through said cover tomeisten a garment positionedbetween said members, a source of vacuum,and connections causing atmospheric air to ilow through the garment andone of said members to the source, to dry a garment positioned adjacentthe last mentioned member.

6. A pressing apparatus comprising a buck member and a head member,mounted for relative movement into juxtaposed relation for pressing agarment therebetween, a pervious cover of flexible material on theoperative face of one member, a pervious operative surface on the othermember, a plurality of air passages associated with said other membercommunicating with said pervious operative surface thereof, means fordelivering steam through the pervious surface of one member. a flexiblesubstantially impervious distensible element' behind said cover, meansfor delivering iluid under pressure behind said element to distend thesame and thereby apply pressing pressure through said cover to saidgarment, and means for delivering air to the space behind said cover forflow through the cover and the garment and the pervious surface of saidother member to dry the garment.

7. A pressing apparatus comprising4 a buck member and a head membermounted for relative movementinto juxtaposed relation for pressing agarment therebetween, a pervious cover of flexible material on theoperative face of one member, a pervious surface on the otherv member, aflexible substantially impervious distensible element behind said cover,means for delivering fluid under pressure behind said element to distendthe same and thereby apply pressing pressure through said cover to saidgarment, and means for alternately delivering steam and air to the spacebehindsaid cover for flow through the coverto moisten and dry a garmentrespectively.

, 8. A pressing apparatus comprising a buck member and a head membermounted for relative movement into juxtaposed relation for pressing agarment therebetween, a pervious cover of exible material on theoperative face of one member, a pervious surface on the other member, aflexible, substantially impervious distensible member behind said cover,means for delivering iiuid under pressure behind said element to distendthe same and thereby apply pressing pressure to said garment, means foralternately delivering steam and air to the space behind said cover forflow through the cover to moisten and dry a garment respectively, andmeans associatedwith the other member for alternately delivering steamthrough the pervious surface thereof and connecting the same to a sourceof vacuum.

9. A pressing apparatus comprising a buck member and a head membermounted for relative movement into juxtaposed relation for pressing agarment therebetween, one of said members having a concavity behind itsoperative face, a pervious cover of flexible material closing saidconcavity, a exiole, expansible sack in the concavity behind the cover,means for delivery fluid under pressure to the sack to expand the sameand thereby lapply pressing pressure to the cover and the garment andmeans for delivering steam to the concavity exteriorlyof the sack forflow through the cover and the garment to moisten .the latter.

Vconcavity behind the cover, means for delivering fluid under pressureto the sack to expand the same and thereby apply pressing pressure tothe cover and the garment and means for delivering air to the concavityexteriorly of the sack for iiow through the cover and the garment, todry the latter.

11. A pressing apparatus comprising a buck member and a head membermounted for relative movement into juxtaposed relation for pressing agarment therebetween, one of said members having a concavity behind itsoperative face, a pervious cover' of exible material closing saidconcavity, a flexible, expansible sack in the concavity behind thecover, means for delivering uid under pressure to the sack to expand thesame and thereby apply pressing pressure to the cover and the garmentand means for alternately delivering steam and air to the concavityexteriorly of the sack for flow through the cover to moisten and to drythe garment, respectively.

12. A pressing apparatus comprising a buck member and a head membermounted for relative movement into juxtaposed relation for pressing agarment therebetween, one of said members being shaped to provide aconcavity behind its operative surface, a pervious cover of iiexiblematerial constituting said surface and closing the concavity, aplurality of independent sacks of iiexible material in said concavity,means for introducing iluid under pressure into said sacks to cause thesame to expand, fill the concavity and apply pressing pressure to thecover and the garment, and means for delivering air and steam to theconcavity exteriorly of said sacks for ow through the cover to makecontact with the garment.

13. A pressing apparatus comprising a buck, a head mounted for downwardmovement into a nxed position, juxtaposed with respect to the buck, saidhead having a downwardly facing concavity formed therein, a perviouscover of ilexible material on the lower surface of the head closing theconcavity, a plurality of substantially closed individual cells or sacksof ilexible material in the concavity behind the cover, means connectinginteriors of the cells to a source of fluid under pressure, wherebyfluid may be delivered to the cells to expand the same to ll theconcavity and apply pressing pressure to the cover and a garmentpositioned on the buck, and means for delivering steam to the concavityexteriorly of the cells for flow through the cover into Contact with agarment on the buck, a vacuum source, and means connecting the pervioussurface of the buck to said source.

14. A pressing apparatus comprising a buck, a head mounted for downwardmovement into a iixed position, juxtaposed with respect to the buck,said head having a downwardly1 facing concavity formed therein, apervious cover of flexible material on the lower surface of the headclosing the concavity, a plurality of substantially closed individualcells or sacks of flexible material in the concavity behind the cover,means connecting interiors of the cells to a source of iiuid underpressure, whereby fluid may be delivered to the cells to expand the sameto fill the concavity and apply pressing pressure to the cover and agar-k ment positioned on the buck, and means for delivering steam andair alternately to the concavity exteriorly of the cells for now throughthe cover into contact with a garment on the buck, a vacuum source, andmeans connecting the pervious'surface of the buck to said source.

15. A pressing apparatus comprising a buck, a

head mounted for downward movement into a fixed position, juxtaposedwith respect to the buck, said head having a downwardly facing concavityformed therein, a pervious cover of flexible material on the lowersurface of the head closing the concavity, a plurality of substantiallyclosed individual cells or sacks of flexible material in the concavitybehind the cover, means connecting interiors of the cells to a source offluid under pressure, whereby iiuid may be delivered to the cells toexpand the same to ll the concavity and apply pressing pressure to thecover and a garment positioned on the buck, and means for deliveringsteam to the concavity exteriorly of the cells for flow through thecover into contact with a garment on the buck, said buck having apervious upper surface, a vacuum source, and means connecting thepervious surface of the buck to said source.

16. A pressing apparatus comprising a buck, a head mounted for downwardmovement into a Xed position, juxtaposed with respect to the buck, saidhead having a downwardly racing concavity formed therein, a perviouscover of flexible material on the lower surface of the head closing theconcavity, a plurality of substantially closed individual cells or sacksof iiexible material in the concavity behind the cover, means connectinginteriors of the cells to a source of fluid under pressure, wherebyfluid may be delivered tothe cells to expand the same to ll theconcavity and apply pressing pressure to the cover and a garmentpositioned on the buck, and means for delivering steam to the concavityexteriorly of the cells for flow through the cover into contact with agarment on the buck, said buck having a pervious upper surface, a sourceof steam, a vacuum source, and means connecting the pervious surface ofthe buck to said sources alternately.

CHARLES S. POWELL. PAUL R. T. HAHN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,319,108 Palmer Oct. 21, 19191,665,654 Braun et al Apr. 10, 1928 1,779,151 Titterington Oct. 2l, 19302,020,030 Johnson Nov. 5, 1935 2,074,658 Malott, Jr Mar. 23, 1937

